English Advanced

Prerequisite 

Students considering this course should have excellent literacy skills, a genuine love of literature, including Shakespeare, and a capacity to think analytically. It is an academically demanding course that should be considered by those who have demonstrated higher achievement in their English studies (A or B grade).

Course Description

In the Preliminary English Advanced course students explore the ways events, experiences, ideas, values and processes are represented in and through texts and analyse the ways in which texts reflect different attitudes and values.

In the HSC English Advanced course students analyse and evaluate texts and the ways they are valued in their contexts. They must study a Shakespearean text.

For whom is this subject intended

Advanced English qualifications provides access to an array of careers. Some careers which presuppose a considerable competence in English include: teaching, the law, media, executive positions, selling, public relations, advertising and the public service. This competency can usually be demonstrated by achievement in Standard English but some tertiary courses may require previous study of HSC Advanced English. The study of English inspires some people to become novelists, poets or playwrights. English literature opens a door to immense intellectual enjoyment and pleasure and provides insight into humanity as a whole as well as an increased understanding of ourselves.

Main Topics Covered

Year 11 course 

The course has three sections:

●        Common module: Reading to Write

●        Module A: Narratives that Shape our World

●        Module B: Critical Study of Literature

HSC Course 

The course has four sections:

●        Common module: Texts and Human Experiences

●        Module A: Textual Conversations

●        Module B: Critical Study of Literature

●        Module C: The Craft of Writing
Optional: This module may be studied concurrently with the common module and/or Modules A and B

Particular Course Requirements

The Preliminary English (Advanced) course requires:

There are no prescribed texts for Year 11.

Students must study a range of types of texts drawn from prose fiction, drama, poetry, nonfiction, film, media and digital texts.

The Year 11 course requires students to support their study of texts with their own wide reading.

The HSC English (Advanced) course requires:

Students are required to closely study four prescribed texts, one drawn from each of the following categories:

●        Shakespearean drama

●        prose fiction

●        poetry OR drama

The remaining text may be film, media or nonfiction text or may be selected from one of the categories above.

The selection of texts for Module C: The Craft of Writing may be drawn from any types of texts and do not contribute to the pattern of prescribed texts for the course requirements.

Students must study ONE related text in the common module: Texts and Human Experiences.